Control arrangement for signal devices



June 15, 1943. A. M. SCHMIDT 2,322,152

. I CONTROL ARRANGEMENT FOR S IGNAL DEVICES .Fil ed Jan. 2, 1941 w U wi mi i Inventor-z -Alfre d M.Schmidt,

b #84476. )Mlun His Att orney Patented June 15, 1943 CONTROL ARRANGEMENT FOR SIGNAL DEVICES Alfred M. Schmidt, Annaberg in Erz G'ebirge,

Germany, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application January 2, 1941, Serial No. 372,917 In Germany January 4, 1940 4 Claims.

This invention relates to control arrangements for signal devices and more particularly to control arrangements to be used for controlling the energization of auxiliary electrical signal devices used withelectric appliances such as electric ranges and the like.

In electrical appliances having more than one heating circuit it is customary to provide a single control switch for each heating circuit. The position of the operating knob for each of these control switches, of course, gives some indication of the position of the switch but usually these knobs are relatively small and are not Very conspicuous so that it is desirable to have some auxiliary means such as an incandescent lamp or glow discharge tube for indicating the position of the switch or the condition of the heating circuit controlled thereby.

In some electrical appliances, for example, electric ranges, it is difficult, if not impossible, to connect the auxiliary signal device directly to the terminals of the particular heating element or heating elements since there are no terminals at the various operating position, such as-low, medium and high, at which a constant potential prevails in all switching positions. overcome this difliculty, special auxiliary contacts have been provided in each of the main control switches. The provision of such auxiliary contacts, however, requires a special design of each control switch which increases the cost of the control device and increases the space required for its installation. vision of such auxiliary contacts in the main control switch so increases the number of conductors to the switch that confusion and faulty connections may result upon the initial instal lation of a switch or the replacement of a worn out switch.

It is the primary oject of this invention to vprovide new and improved means by which electrical connections may be simply and readily made to an auxiliarysignal device for an electrical appliance.

It is a further object of this invention to provide new and improved means by which the op eration of any one of a plurality of control switches for an electrical appliance will cause energization of a signal device for the appliance.

It is a further object of this invention to provide new and improved control arrangements, for the auxiliary signal devices of electrical appliances, which are easily installed, readily op- Moreover the pron order to erated and may be manufactured and assembled in an electrical appliance at low cost.

In accordance with one form of this invention I have .provided a separate contact device in the form of a pair of elongated resilient members for controlling the energization of the auxiliary indicating means. Provided on each of the main control switches for the appliance is a cam which is constructed so that when the particular 7 control switch is in its on position the cam will engage one of the resilient members to cause the indicating means to be energized.

' For a more complete understanding of my invention reference should be had to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation partly in section of one form of my improved construction for connecting an auxiliary signal device to a sourceof supply upon the actuation of one of a plurality of main control switches; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 showing, in addition, the main switches and their relation to the control means for the signal device; Fig. 3 is a side elevation partly in section of a modified form of control arrangement, the electrical connections thereto being shown schematically; and Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3showing schematically the electrical connections to be made when a separate indicating lamp is used for each of the main control switches.

Referring to the drawing and particularly to 1 Figs. 1. and 2, Hi represents the control panel of an electrical appliance, for example, an electric range. Mounted on the front of this panel is a plurality of main control switches H which may be of any suitable type. It is to be under stood that each of' these switches is electrically connected to a particluar heating unit (not shown). By varying the position of the switch ll' through movement of the knob l2 the heat output of the heating unit may be varied as iswell known in the art.

In order to provide auxiliary signal means for indicating the electrical condition of the heating circuit or circuits controlled by these switches H I have provided a signal lamp I3 which may be either a suitable glow discharge lamp or a suitable incandescent lamp. In accordance with my invention I have provided simplified means for controlling the energization of the lamp I3 in accordance with actuation of the main switches H. In the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the control means for the lamp l3 comprises a pair of resilient bars l4 and I5 which are suitably supported at the rear of the .panel I 0 These bars are spaced a slight distance from each other by means of spacer blocks It made of some suitable insulating material. On the sides of the bars l4 and I5 which face each other there is provided contacts I1 and I8 respectively. As shown in the drawing, a pair of contacts is provided for each "of the main controlling switches used and these contacts are biased to the normally opened position due to the resilient efiect of the bars l4 and I5. Provided at one end of the bar Hi is a terminal l9 which is con nected by means of a lead 20 to one side of a suitable substantially constant voltage source of supply (not shown). Provided at the adjacent end of the resilient bar I5 is a terminal connection 2| which is connected by means of the lead 22 to one side of the lamp I3, the other side of the lamp being connected to the second side of the source of supply (not shown). By means of this arrangement it will be clear that as long as all of the contacts I! and I8 carried by the bars M and I5 are open the lamp l3 will be deenergized. However, when any one of the pairs of contacts I! and I8 is closed. the lamp [3 will be connected to the source of supply and will 'give off a visible signal indicating that the heating appliance is in use.

In order to ,control the energization of the lamp I3 in accordance with movement of the main switches H, a cam 23 is mounted on an extension 24a of the shaft 24 of each of the main switches ll. Each of the extensions 24a. of the shafts v24 projects outwardly from the rear wall of the panel an amount sufiicient to bring the cam 23 mounted thereon over the outer face of the resilient bar M. The cam 23 is designed so that when the respective main switch I l is in the off position no part of the cam will engage the resilient member M. However, when the main switch is turned from the 011' position, the surface of the cam will engage the surface of the bar I4 and will press it inwardly an amount snfiicient to cause the corresponding pair of contacts I! and lBto be closed thus energizing the lamp l3. In Fig. 3 I have shown a modified form of my improved means for controlling the energization of an auxiliary signal device for an electrical appliance. In this form of my invention the contact device consists of a relatively fixed bar 25 upon which is mounted a plurality of flexible contact springs 26. One end of each of the springs 26 is secured to the fixed bar 25 by means of screws 21 and is insulated from the bar 25 by means of suitable insulating washers 28. The opposite end of each of the springs is biased away from the fixed bar as shown in Fig. 3. Provided on the flexible contact arm 26 is a contact 29 which is adapted to engage the contact 30 provided on the bar 25. Each of the separate switches formed by the contacts 29 and 30 is connected by leads 3| to one side of a suitable source of supply through the indicating lamp 32. The opposite side of the source of supply is connected by means of a suitable lead 33 to the electrical terminal 34 provided at the end of the stationary bar 25. Whenever any of the contacts 29 and 30 are closed the lamp 32 will be energized.

In order to control the operation of the contacts 29 and 30 in accordance with movement of a main circuit controlling device, cams 23 are mounted on the shaft 24 of the control device and these cams are constructed and arranged so that the fiexible arm 25 will be pressed downwardly to cause the contacts 29 and 39 to be closed whenever a particular control switch is moved from the oif to its on position.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 the particular contact device employed is identical to that shown and described in connection with Fig. 3 and the same reference numerals are used to identify corresponding elements. In this particular arrangement, however, a signal lamp 32 is provided in series with each pair of contacts 29 and 30. Thus in this arrangement each of the lamps 32 will only be energized when its corresponding pair of contacts 29 and 30 are closed by the cam 23. Thus by means of this arrangement the auxiliary signal device not only gives an indication as to whether any switch in the heating device is energized but also gives an indication as to what particular switch has been actuated to cause the energization of a particular heating unit thereof.

From the foregoing detailed description it is apparent that I have provided in accordance with this invention an exceedingly simple and inexpensive arrangement for controlling the energization of an auxiliary signal device for an electric appliance and that I have provided means for obtaining this control without affecting in any way the design and space requirements of the main switching means used with the appliance. Moreover, it will be observed that I have provided a simplified control arrangement by which auxiliary indicating or signal means may be connected to an electrical supply circuit independently of the main switching means whereby permanent electrical connections may be made to the signal device without complicating the con nections made to the main switching means. It is to be observed further that I have provided a simplified and easily constructed means whereby a signal device may be energized in accordance with movement of one or more of a plurality of main control devices.

While I have shown certain modifications of my-improved control arrangement, it is apparent that many other modifications may be made and I, therefore, intend in the appended claims to cover all such modifications as are within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. The combination with an electrical appliance having a main circuit controller movable to different circuit controlling positions of a switch for controlling an indicating device, said switch comprising a pair of normally open contacts mounted on said appliance independently of said circuit controller, one of said contacts'being carried by resilient contact supporting means, and a cam mounted on said circuit controller for engaging said resilient contact supporting means and closing said switch upon a movement of said controller from a predetermined position, said cam constituting the only connection between said circuit controller and said switch whereby said circuit controller may be removed from said appliance without interfering with said switch or the circuit connections thereto.

2. The combination with an electrical appli ance having a plurality of main circuit controllers, of an indicating device, an energizing circuit for said device, switching means having a pair of terminals connected in series with said energizing circuit for connecting said indicating device to said circuit in response to movement of any one of said circuit controllers from a predetermined position, said switching means comprising a bar of electrically conducting material mounted on said appliance adjacent said circuit controllers, a plurality of pairs of normally open contacts mounted on said bar, one of said pairs of contacts being associated with each of said circuit controllers, each of said pairs of contacts comprising a stationary contact mounted on and electrically connected to said bar, and a movable contact carried on resilient contact supporting means secured to said bar, means for electrically connecting said movable contacts with one of said terminals, the other of said terminals being connected to said bar, a cam mounted on a movable portion of each of said main circuit controllers, each cam being arranged to engage said resilient contact supporting means and effect a closure of the switch associated with the circuit controller upon movement of that circuit controller from a predetermined position Whereby a circuit is completed between said terminals and said indicating device is energized whenever any one of said circuit controllers is moved from a predetermined position.

3. An arrangement for connecting an indicating lamp to a source of supply in accordance with the movement of the main circuit controlling means of an electrical appliance comprising a rigid bar, a plurality of resilient contact arms mounted on said bar and insulated therefrom, cooperating contact means on said bar and said arm, said contact arms being biased so that said contact means are normally open, means for electrically connecting said contact means in parallel with each other but in series with the in dicating lamp to be controlled, and cam means engaging each of said contact arms so as to move said switch means from the normally open position to the closed position, said cam means being adapted to be actuated in accordance with the movement of said main circuit controlling means.

4. The combination with an electrical appliance having a plurality of main circuit controllers, of an indicating device, an energizing circuit for said device, switching means having a pair of terminals connected in series with said energizing circuit for connecting said indicating device to said circuit in response to movement of any one of said circuit controllers from a predetermined position, said switching means comprising a pair of resilient parallel electrically conducting bars mounted in spaced relation on said appliance adjacent said circuit controllers, a pair of normally open contacts associated with each circuit controller, each pair of contacts comprising a contact mounted on and electrially connected to one of said bars and a cooperating contact mounted on and electrically connected to the other of said bars, one of said bars being connected to one of said terminals and the other of said bars being connected to the other of said terminals, a cam mounted on each of said circuit controllers, each cam being arranged to engage one of said bars and efiect a closure of the pair of contacts associated with the circuit controller upon a movement of that circuit controller from a predetermined position whereby a circuit is completed between said terminals and said indicating device is energized whenever any one of said circuit controllers is moved from a predetermined position.

ALFRED M. SCHMIDT. 

